Automatic railway-switch.



J. DUBOIS & .l. E. JONES.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION man 05c. 26. 1914.

l lwfififio Patented May 25, 1915.

5 INVENTORS:

WITNES 12,5.-

- ATTORNEYS.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHDTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, 11 C.

JAMES DUBOIS AND JOHN E. JONES, OF WESTVILLE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Application filed December 26, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Janus Donors and JOHN E. JoNns, citizens of the United States, residing at VVestville, county of Vermilion, State of Illinois, have invented a centain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Railway-Switches, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

While our invention may be employed on railways of all kinds, it is intended particularly for application to railways in mines.

It is a common practice in coal mines for example, to bring the empty cars to and remove the full cars from predetermined points by means of electric locomotives, the handling of the cars beyond these predetermined points being either through manual or mule power. In order to facilitate the handling of the cars, side tracks are provided to which the empty cars are brought and from which they are taken by the miners and filled. In order to secure the greatest amount of eflicient work out of the locomotive and prevent waste of time, it is preferable that the locomotive ordinarily does not enter the side track but delivers the empty cars thereto by means of a flying switch, the locomotive remaining on what may be called the main track so that it is in position to be coupled to filled cars and draw them away.

The principal object of our invention is to produce a simple and novel switch mechanism which will permit a locomotive to make a flying switch and, upon returning back through the switch leave the parts in the positions they originally occupied, the entire operation being automatic and without requiring the presence of an operator on the ground.

A further object of our invention is to produce an automatic switch which will be set and re-set by a car or locomotive and, after having been re-set, will offer no obstruction to the passage of further cars or locomotives going in the same direction as that by which the switch was re-set.

Viewed in its most general aspect, our in- Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentea May as, new.

Serial No. 879,142.

vention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple automatic switch mechanism which will be successfully operated in both directions by a car or locomotive and be yieldingly locked in each of its extreme positions.

The various features of novelty whereby our invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of our invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of two railway tracks adjacent to a switch to which our im I proved switch operating mechanism is connected; Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale taken approximately on line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale taken approximately on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1, 1 represent the rails of what we shall hereafter for the sake of brevity call the main track, while 2, 2 represent the rails of a branch or side track. Associated with one of the rails of each of the tracks is a switch point, these being indicated at 8 and 4 respectively. When the switch points are in the position illustrated in the drawing, the member 4 being held away from the cooperating rail of the main track, alocomotive approaching the switch from the lower end of Fig. 1 will continue along the main track; while when the switch is thrown into the other position wherein the point 4: engages with the adjacent rail of the main track and the point 3 is clear of the adjacent rail of the side track, the locomotive will leave the main track and continue on the side or branch track.

The switch points are connected together by an actuating rod, 5, the outer end of which is connected to a crank arm, 6, on the lower end of a vertical spindle or shaft, 7 a turn buckle, 8, being arranged between the ends of the actuator in order that the latter may be accurately adjusted. In the arrangement shown the spindle, 7, projects upwardly through a slot, 9, extending through one side and inwardly through a portion of the bottom of a U-shaped supporting plate, 10, suitably secured upon the railway ties beside the tracks. This slot permits the spindle to be separated from the base plate in the lateral direction and therefore makes it possible to provide the spindle with an integral or at least a permanent controlling arm, 11, above the base plate. Between the slotted side of the base plate and the spindle is arranged a bearing block, 12, which, with the inner end of the slot 9 in the base plate, may form the lower bearing for the spindle or, if desired, the block may be provided with a detachable part, 18, forming with it a complete bearing. The bearing block is preferably made of such a thickness that when the'crank arm at the lower end of the spindle is properly located in the vertical direction the controlling arm, 11, rests upon the bearing block, 12, so that the latter I serves both to prevent lateral displacement of the lower end of the spindle and to maintain the spindle against displacement in the vertical direction.

When the spindle is to be removed the bearing block is detached and then the spindle can be carried out laterally as heretofore explained. If the distance between the arms 6 and 11 on the spindle is made at least as great as the depth of the side portions of the base member. The spindle may be shifted laterally to remove the same, while maintaining its position at right angles to the base. The upper bearing for the spindle is formed by a U-shaped plate, 14, through which the spindle projects, this plate fitting down over the side members of the base plate. It will be seen that by substituting for the cover plate one which has long side members, the cover plate with the base member will serve as a high stand for an ordinary manually operated switch; and, by properly proportioning the cover plate, any intermediate conditionbetween the shallow box like structure illustrated and the high switch stand may be obtained.

7 To the outer end of the controlling arm, 11, is hinged a rod, 15, which projects out through one side of the base plate and around which is coiled a spring, 16. The parts are so proportioned that the members 11 and 15 are always arranged at an angle 7 to each other except at what may be termed the dead center where the switch points are halfway between their extreme positions, and consequently the spring 16, which is always under tension, holds the switch points with a firm yielding pressureiin both of the two working positions and, after the switch points have been moved halfway from one position to the other, serve to complete the movement so that the spring serves both as an actuator and as a yieldable lock.

With the arrangement just described, a locomotive or car approaching the switch along either track from the upper end of Fig. 1 will throw the switch into the proper position, if it be not already in that position, to bring the car or locomotive upon the main track, the flanges of the wheels crowding the switch points over. This automatic throwing of the switch is permitted by the locking and actuating spring, 16; At some distance beyond. the switch is arranged atransverse rock shaft, 18, having at one end anupwardly projecting arm, 19, lying in the vicinity of one of the rails of the main rail so that it can be struck by a passing wheel, the frame of the locomotive, or any other suitable device provided for that purpose. At the other end of the rock shaft is an upwardly projecting arm, 20, at about the same distance fromthe main track as the point of connection between the members 11' and 15 of the switch stand. To the upper end of the arm, 20, is attached a connecting rod, 21, which extends to the actuating arm 11 of the switch mechanism and is attached thereto. In the arrangement shown, the members 11 and 16 are secured together by means of an eye bolt, 22, and the rod, 21, projects through the eye in this bolt and is provided with a suitable stop or shoulder on each side of the nut.

gaging directly with what may be called the outer side of the eye; while a second nut, 24:, is arranged on the rod at a considerable dis- In the arrangement shown there is a nut, 23, on the rod 21 entance from what may be termed the inner side of the eye. Between the nut, 24, and the eye is a spring, 25.

It will be seen that with the construction just described, a rotation of the rock shaft, 18, in one direction will positively rotate the spindle of the switch mechanism while rotation of the rock shaft in the opposite direction will produce no effect because the actuating rod, 21, will slide freely through the eye 22, resisted only by the comparatively light spring, 25.

The operation is as follows: The normal position of the switch points is that illustrated in the drawing. When a car or locomotive of, a train which is making a flying switch reaches the switch it continues along the main track until its front wheel or any other suitable device provided for that purpose engages'with the arm, 19, of the rock shaft, throwing this arm down, rotating the spindle of the switch stand and throwing the switch into the position to deflect the oncoming cars to the side track. The operating arm, 19, remains in its depressed position until the locomotive returns back through the switch and returns the switch points to the original positions, in the manner heretofore described; this operation causing the switch spindle to be rotated and, serving as an actuator, turning the rock shaft back so as to bring its operating arm upright. In case a loaded car or any other vehicle should travel along the main track from the upper end of Fig. 1, while the parts are in the position illustrated, no injury could result to the switch mechanism and the operating arm, 19, thereof could not act as an obstruction, by reason of the fact that the yielding connection between the rod 21 and the switch spindle permits the operating arm, 19, to yield under a wheel passing in this direction.

It will therefore be seen that by our invention we have produced an entirely automatic switch mechanism in which the switch points will be yieldingly locked with suflicient pressure in both of their working positions to prevent accidental displacement, while the throwing of the switch points in one direction or the other is accomplished easily and simply as occasion demands.

lVhile we have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of our invention we do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the terms employed in the definitions of our invention constituting the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, two tracks, a switch including connected movable switch points arranged to be shifted by the direct action of the wheels of a piece of rolling stock entering the switch from either of said tracks, a spring controlled actuating and locking device connected to said points and adapted yieldingly to hold them in either working position and to complete the throw thereof from one position to the other after they have reached a predetermined point, a movable part arranged beside one of said tracks at some distance beyond the switch in position to be engaged and actuated by a piece of rolling stock passing along the track, and a connection between said member and said spring-controlled device for causing the switch to be thrown when said member is moved in one direction and for permitting said member to move independently of the switch in the opposite direction.

2. In combination, two tracks, a switch including connected movable switch points arranged to be shifted by the direct action of the wheels of a piece of rolling stock entering the switch from either of said tracks, a spring-controlled actuating and locking device connected to said points and adapted yieldingly to hold said points in either working position and to complete the throw thereof in either direction after they have been moved a predetermined distance, a member arranged beside one of said tracks at some distance beyond the switch in position to be engaged and actuated by a piece of rolling stock passing along that track, said spring-controlled device being provided with an eye, a rod extending from said member and passing loosely through said eye, shoulders on said rod on opposite sides of said eye, one of said shoulders engaging with the eye and the other being spaced a considerable distance from the eye.

3. In combination, two tracks, a switch including connected movable switch points arranged to be shifted by the direct action of the wheels of a piece of rolling stock entering the switch from either of said tracks, a spring-controlled actuating and locking device connected to said points and adapted yieldingly to hold said points in either working position to complete the throw thereof in either direction after they have been moved a predetermined distance, a member arranged beside one of said tracks at some distance beyond the switch in position to be engaged and actuated by a piece of rolling stock passing along that track, said springcontrolled device being provided with an eye, a rod extending from said member and passing loosely through said eye, shoulders on said rod on opposite sides of said eye, one of said shoulders engaging with the eye and the other being spaced a considerable distance from the eye, and a spring arranged between said eye and the latter shoulder.

4-. In a switch device, a base plate having a slot extending inwardly through one edge thereof, a switch spindle lying within said slot and having thereon permanent arms one above and the other below the base plate, and a bearing block lying between said spindle and the aforesaid edge and engaging with said spindle.

5. In a switch device, a base plate having upwardly projecting side members, there being a slot extending entirely through one of said side members and for some distance into the base, a switch spindle lying within said slot and having thereon above and below the base plate permanently attached arms spaced apart a distance at least as great as the height of the slotted side member, and a bearing block lying between the latter side member and the spindle and engaging with the spindle.

6. In a switch device, a base plate having upwardly projecting side members, there being a slot extending entirely through one of said side members and for some distance into the base, a switch spindle lying within said slot and having thereon above and below the base plate permanently attached arms spaced apart a distance at least as great as the height of the slotted side member, a bearing block lying between the latter side member and the spindle and engaging with the spindle, and a detachable cover plate extending down over the base plate and providing a bearing for the upper end of the spindle.

7. In a switch device, a base plate having into the base, a switch spindle lying Within over the base plate and providing a bearing for the upper end of the spindle. In testimony whereof, We signthis specification in the presence of two wltnesses.

JAMES DUBOIS. JOHN E. JONES.

upwardly projecting side members, there being a slot extending entirely through one of said side members and for some distance said slot and having thereon laterally projecting arms arranged respectively above and below the base plate, a bearing block lying between the latter side member and the spindle and engaging With the spindle, and a detachable cover plate extending down WVitnesses:

JOHN GRnesoN, ED. KonPKn.

C'opies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. (2. 

